Propagation parameters of the beam extracted from a diode pumped Nd : YAG ceramic slab laser with a hybrid stable-unstable resonator

摘要

We analyze the propagation properties of the beam extracted from a diode pumped ceramic Nd:YAG slab laser adopting a hybrid stable-unstable resonator. Such a resonator produces a beam characterized by an Hermite-Gauss mixture-like distribution in one transverse direction and a hard-edge diffracted distribution on the other transverse direction. The beam propagation parameters M-x(2) and M-y(2) are measured for different values of the diodes driving current. We obtain a beam parameter product smaller than 3 mm mrad in both transverse directions and in the whole range of powers, up to an extraction of 220W in a QCW regime. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.